GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 249,007	$ 310,073	$ 222,104	$ 229,836
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	566,394	579,394
Other current assets	299,157	281,712
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,588,286	1,602,170
Investments in subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	565,062	570,960
Permits and other intangibles, net	557,211	569,973
Other long-term assets	38,838	39,396
Total assets	3,863,955	3,953,678
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	587,318	639,545
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	185,294	190,112
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	913	1,435
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	244,795	246,947
Total liabilities	2,418,320	2,478,039
Stockholders’ equity	1,445,635	1,475,639
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,863,955	3,953,678
Clean Harbors, Inc.
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	1,006	1,006	3,536	35,214
Intercompany receivables	255,774	269,580
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	24,087	24,087
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	2,671,744	2,683,158
Intercompany debt receivable	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	22,946	23,770
Total assets	2,975,557	3,001,601
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	37,586	33,626
Intercompany payables	0	0
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	1,400,000	1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	3,701	3,701
Other long-term liabilities	88,635	88,635
Total liabilities	1,529,922	1,525,962
Stockholders’ equity	1,445,635	1,475,639
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	2,975,557	3,001,601
U.S. Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	200,691	235,445	165,156	140,683
Intercompany receivables	2,418	2,448
Accounts receivable, net	374,008	387,006
Other current assets	201,731	182,881
Property, plant and equipment, net	954,458	945,280
Investments in subsidiaries	952,030	967,186
Intercompany debt receivable	475,548	493,402
Goodwill	415,453	415,541
Permits and other intangibles, net	453,122	458,917
Other long-term assets	7,263	7,018
Total assets	4,036,722	4,095,124
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	424,583	466,454
Intercompany payables	468,281	499,749
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	154,440	158,298
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	152	191
Intercompany debt payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	103,107	103,125
Total liabilities	1,150,563	1,227,817
Stockholders’ equity	2,886,159	2,867,307
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	4,036,722	4,095,124
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	47,310	73,622	53,412	53,939
Intercompany receivables	212,558	230,224
Accounts receivable, net	192,386	192,388
Other current assets	73,339	74,744
Property, plant and equipment, net	633,828	656,890
Investments in subsidiaries	144,953	144,953
Intercompany debt receivable	3,701	3,701
Goodwill	149,609	155,419
Permits and other intangibles, net	104,089	111,056
Other long-term assets	8,629	8,608
Total assets	1,570,402	1,651,605
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	125,149	139,465
Intercompany payables	2,469	2,503
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	30,854	31,814
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	761	1,244
Intercompany debt payable	475,548	493,402
Other long-term liabilities	53,053	55,187
Total liabilities	687,834	723,615
Stockholders’ equity	882,568	927,990
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	1,570,402	1,651,605
Consolidating Adjustments
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(470,750)	(502,252)
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0	0
Investments in subsidiaries	(3,768,727)	(3,795,297)
Intercompany debt receivable	(479,249)	(497,103)
Goodwill	0	0
Permits and other intangibles, net	0	0
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(4,718,726)	(4,794,652)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities	0	0
Intercompany payables	(470,750)	(502,252)
Closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities, net	0	0
Long-term obligations	0	0
Capital lease obligations, net	0	0
Intercompany debt payable	(479,249)	(497,103)
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(949,999)	(999,355)
Stockholders’ equity	(3,768,727)	(3,795,297)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (4,718,726)	$ (4,794,652)